Chapter 81: A Talk to Remember
The after school bell rang, Maggie and Jason made their way out of Gotham Academy, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the manicured campus grounds. Jason slung his backpack over one shoulder, glancing at Maggie as she stifled a yawn.
"Long day?" he asked, unlocking his motorcycle.
Maggie rolled her eyes. "You have no idea."
Jason smirked, handing her a helmet. "Well, lucky for you, you've got the best getaway driver in Gotham."
She snorted. "Right. Until we get pulled over and I have to explain why my boyfriend drives like a maniac."
Jason grinned, revving the engine as Maggie climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Relax, Princess. I know all the shortcuts."
With that, he peeled out of the parking lot, weaving through Gotham's congested streets with ease. The city blurred past them in streaks of gray and neon, the familiar pulse of Gotham a constant hum in their ears. Maggie rested her chin against Jason's shoulder, letting the cool breeze wash over her.
When they finally pulled up to Wayne Manor, Jason cut the engine, and Maggie hopped off, stretching. "Ugh, my legs are asleep," she muttered, handing him the helmet.
Jason laughed. "Told you to stretch before the ride."
Rolling her eyes, Maggie turned toward the manor, the towering, gothic structure standing solemnly against the evening sky. The front doors opened before they even reached them, Alfred standing there in his usual crisp attire, his expression as composed as ever.
"Welcome home, Miss Maggie, Master Jason," Alfred said with a knowing smile, his hands neatly folded in front of him. "Master Bruce wishes to see you both in the study."
Maggie exchanged a glance with Jason, her brow furrowing slightly. "That sounds... ominous."
Jason smirked, handing his helmet to Alfred. "It's Bruce. Everything sounds ominous."
Alfred's lips twitched in amusement. "Indeed, Master Todd. If you'll follow me."
The two followed Alfred through the grand halls of Wayne Manor, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors. The weight of Bruce's sudden summons hung over them, and Maggie couldn't shake the feeling that this was about more than just patrol.
As they entered the study, Bruce stood near the fireplace, his sharp blue eyes focused on a document in his hands. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows against the walls, making the room feel even more imposing.
"Sit," Bruce said without looking up, his voice carrying its usual quiet authority.
Jason plopped onto one of the leather chairs with an exaggerated sigh. Maggie sat more cautiously, her hands folded in her lap. "What's going on, Dad?"
Bruce finally looked up, his expression unreadable. He studied them both for a moment before speaking. "Oracle flagged something concerning chatter on the dark web today. Mentions of you, Maggie. The Court of Owls. A timeline—five years."
Maggie's brows furrowed in confusion. "The Court of Owls? You mean that old Gotham nursery rhyme? I thought they were just a myth."
Bruce's jaw tightened. "So did I. But I've been gathering intel for years, piecing together whispers, disappearances, and unexplained events. Until now, there was nothing concrete. This…" He gestured to the tablet in front of him, where fragmented phrases like "Wayne heiress," and "the timeline is set" flickered across the screen alongside eerie images of their infamous white masks. "This changes everything."
Jason leaned forward, his expression darkening. "So they're real. And they've been watching Maggie?"
Bruce nodded grimly. "It seems they have plans for her—plans that take shape in five years. Which means they're playing a long game."
Maggie swallowed hard, her mind racing. "What kind of plans?"
Bruce's voice was steady but laced with tension. "That we do not know." He tapped the tablet in front of him, bringing up cryptic messages intercepted by Oracle. "What we do know is that they have been watching you. Monitoring your movements. And this timeline—five years from now—it suggests something long-term, something they're carefully orchestrating."
Jason leaned forward, his jaw clenched. "Why not just make their move now?"
Bruce's expression darkened. "The Court doesn't operate like Gotham's usual criminals. They're methodical, patient. If they're waiting five years, it means they're preparing you for something—shaping events to fit their design."
Maggie crossed her arms, trying to keep her voice steady. "So what do I do in the meantime?"
Bruce met her gaze, his expression unwavering. "You keep living your life and stay visible but cautious. The Court of Owls operates in the shadows. If they think you're unaware, they might reveal more than they intend."
Maggie frowned. "So I'm just supposed to pretend like I don't know I have a secret cult planning my future?"
Bruce's voice softened just a fraction. "Yes. The more normal things seem, the better we can control the narrative. But you won't be alone. Jason will stay close, and I'll have additional surveillance keeping an eye on you."
Jason, who had been quiet, leaned forward. "Yeah, Mags. Consider me your personal bodyguard." He smirked, but there was an underlying seriousness in his eyes.
Maggie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Great. So I'll have a secret society watching my every move. Totally normal."
Bruce's expression remained stern. "I know it's not easy. But we have to be patient. The Court thrives on secrecy and manipulation. We make one wrong move, and they'll disappear, taking any chance of stopping them with them."
Maggie nodded slowly, chewing the inside of her cheek. "Alright. But what if something happens? What if they make a move sooner than we think?"
Bruce's eyes darkened slightly, his voice laced with quiet resolve. "Then we'll be ready. Oracle will monitor for any further chatter, and I'll keep close tabs on anyone in Gotham's elite who might be connected to them." He paused, looking directly at Maggie. "And if anything feels off—anything—you tell me immediately. No exceptions."
Maggie swallowed and nodded. "Got it. No exceptions."
Jason leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "And what about patrol? You still letting her go out with us after homecoming?"
Bruce's gaze shifted to Jason, his expression unreadable. "After homecoming, we'll reassess."
Maggie frowned. "Reassess? Dad, you promised."
Bruce's eyes met hers, his voice steady but firm. "And I intend to keep that promise, but I won't put you in danger without knowing exactly what we're up against." He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the desk. "The Court of Owls isn't like anything I have faced before. They don't make mistakes. They don't leave loose ends. If they have plans for you, we need to be sure we're ready."
Maggie crossed her arms, frustration evident in her stance. "I am ready. I've been training for this my entire life."
Jason chimed in, his voice softer but supportive. "She's got a point, Bruce. You've held her back long enough. Letting her suit up after homecoming makes sense—keeping her in the dark doesn't."
Bruce's expression hardened slightly, but there was a flicker of consideration in his eyes. "I'll allow you to start patrols after homecoming," he said finally. "But under strict conditions. You'll work with me, Jason or Dick at all times, no solo patrols, and you report in regularly. If I sense any threat from the Court escalating, you're benched. Understood?"
Maggie let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, a triumphant smile creeping onto her face. "Understood. Thank you."
Jason grinned, leaning back in his chair. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Bruce didn't react to the jab, instead shifting in his seat, his expression growing more serious. He exhaled slowly, clasping his hands together on the desk. "There's something else I need to discuss with both of you."
Maggie exchanged a wary glance with Jason.Bruce's gaze met there's, unwavering and calm. "I know you two have been in a relationship for a while now," he said, his voice measured but firm. "And I'm not blind to the fact that things can... evolve physically."
Maggie's face turned bright red, and Jason coughed awkwardly, suddenly finding the desk in front of him incredibly interesting. "Uh, Bruce..."
Bruce held up a hand, cutting off the protest before it could begin. "I'm not here to lecture you. You're both almost adults."
Maggie and Jason froze, their eyes widening in synchronized horror as realization dawned on them.
"Oh God," Maggie muttered under her breath, sinking lower into her chair. "He's trying to give us the talk."
Jason stiffened, his usual cocky demeanor nowhere to be found. "Bruce, no," he said quickly, holding up a hand as if to physically ward off the impending conversation. "Just... no."
Bruce's face remained as stoic as ever. "This isn't something you can just ignore, Jason. It's important." He leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze flickering between them. "Relationships—
"Dad, please, I know you mean well, but this is so not necessary."
Jason shook his head vigorously. "Seriously, B, I've been shot at, stabbed, and thrown off rooftops. I do not need this conversation."
Bruce's voice was calm but unwavering. "I disagree. You both need to understand that...Physical relationships complicate things and comes with their own risk."
Jason, looking like he was experiencing a fate worse than death, leaned toward her. "Why is he so calm about this?" he whispered, barely moving his lips.
Bruce ignored their discomfort and continued. "I just need to know that you're both being... responsible. Taking precautions."
Jason dragged a hand down his face. "Look, Bruce, we're not reckless, okay? We care about each other, but we're not dumb." He glanced at Maggie. "Right?"
Maggie nodded furiously. "Right. Absolutely. Totally responsible."
Bruce regarded them for a long moment, clearly assessing their sincerity. Finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Alright. I trust you both."
Jason exhaled in relief, standing up as fast as humanly possible. "Great. Awesome. Thanks, B. We'll be going now."
Maggie shot up from her seat just as quickly, practically pushing Jason toward the door. "Yep. Got it. Loud and clear. Bye, Dad."
Before they could escape, Bruce's voice called after Jason, his tone calm but laced with unmistakable authority. "And Jason…"
Jason froze mid-step, groaning under his breath before turning slightly. "Yeah, B?"
Bruce didn't say a word—he simply raised two fingers to his eyes, then pointed directly at Jason with the infamous I'm watching you gesture.
Jason's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, come on!"
Maggie grabbed his arm. "Nope, we're leaving. Right now."
Bruce's voice followed them down the hall. "And don't forget—training after you finish your homework."
Down in the Batcave, the sound of laughter echoed through the cavernous space as Dick and Barbara watched the live feed from Bruce's study on the Batcomputer's massive monitor.
Dick leaned back in his chair, wiping a tear from his eye. "Oh man, that was priceless. Babs, please tell me you recorded that."
Barbara, sitting cross-legged at the console, smirked and tapped a few keys. "Already clipped and saved." She shot Dick a grin. "This is so going in the family archives."
Bruce's voice, as stoic as ever, cut through their amusement from his position near the Batcomputer. "You two have far too much free time."
Dick spun his chair around to face him, still grinning. "Come on, Bruce, admit it. That was gold. Jason's face? Maggie dragging him out like his life depended on it?" He mimicked Jason's horrified expression dramatically. "'Oh, come on!'"
Barbara chuckled, clicking through the footage again. "Honestly, I think Maggie handled it better than Jason did."
Bruce exhaled, shaking his head. "They're lucky I didn't give the full talk."
Dick's grin widened. "Wait… that wasn't the full talk?"
Barbara covered her mouth to suppress her laughter, while Bruce shot them both a look that could freeze a Gotham heatwave. "Enough. Focus on the Court of Owls intel."
Dick held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. But you gotta admit, it's nice having some normal teenage drama around here for once."
Bruce didn't respond, merely returning his attention to the Batcomputer. Dick leaned toward Barbara, whispering, "He totally loves it."
Barbara smirked. "Oh, absolutely. He's just too stubborn to admit it."
Bruce's voice carried over his shoulder. "I heard that."
Dick just grinned wider. "Of course you did."